amenazar Preterite Conjugation
amenazar — to threaten
The preterite features a spelling change in the 'yo' form (amenacé) to keep the 'th/s' sound, but is otherwise regular.
amenazar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite for a specific instance where a threat was made or a danger appeared at a distinct point in time.
Notes on amenazar in the Preterite
There is a spelling change in the 'yo' form: the 'z' changes to 'c' (amenacé) because in Spanish, 'z' rarely appears before 'e'. All other forms use 'z'.
Example Sentences
Yo amenacé con llamar a la policía.
I threatened to call the police.
yo
El jefe amenazó con despedirnos.
The boss threatened to fire us.
él/ella/usted
Nos amenazaron durante la reunión.
They threatened us during the meeting.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'amenazé' for the first person.
Correct: amenacé
Why: In Spanish spelling rules, 'z' changes to 'c' before the letter 'e'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: amenazo
The present of amenazar is regular except for the z-to-c spelling change in the subjunctive (not here), following standard -ar patterns: amenazo, amenazas, amenaza...
Imperfect
yo: amenazaba
The imperfect of amenazar is entirely regular: amenazaba, amenazabas, amenazaba...
Future
yo: amenazaré
The future tense is regular; simply add the endings to the infinitive: amenazaré, amenazarás, amenazará.
Conditional
yo: amenazaría
The conditional is regular: amenazaría, amenazarías, amenazaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: amenace
The present subjunctive requires a spelling change from 'z' to 'c' in all forms: amenace, amenaces, amenace...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: amenazara
The imperfect subjunctive is based on the preterite third-person plural: amenazara, amenazaras, amenazara...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: amenaza
Use 'amenaza' for informal commands and 'amenace' for formal ones, noting the z-to-c change in formal forms.
Negative Imperative
yo: no amenaces
Always uses the present subjunctive forms: no amenaces, no amenace, no amenacen.